If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Dogs secure pick one in AFLW Draft, Lambert becomes a Pie

The Western Bulldogs have secured the first pick overall in the 2017 AFLW Draft in a three-way trade with Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney.

As part of the deal, Bulldogs’ midfielder Jaimee Lambert will join the Magpies for next season, with Collingwood’s Alicia Eva traded to the Giants.

In exchange, the Bulldogs received selections one, four and 12, with its pick three heading to Collingwood.
As it stands, the Dogs have four selections in the top 12 of the Draft – the most of any team in the competition.
“Jaimee expressed an interest to continue her football career at Collingwood after an opportunity presented, and we understand her decision,” said Bulldogs’ AFLW coach Paul Groves.

“We believe we have secured a fair and reasonable trade for her services, which gives us an opportunity to bring in some young, developing talent to our club.

“We thank Jaimee for her efforts and wish her all the best for the future.”
Lambert was drafted in the first round (pick five) in the 2016 AFLW Draft and played six games last season.
IN: Pick 1 (GWS), Pick 4 (Coll), Pick 12 (Coll)OUT: Jaimee Lambert, Pick 3

Re: Dogs secure pick one in AFLW Draft, Lambert becomes a Pie

SHE'S one of the most recognisable faces in women's football, and she's keen to make the move to Melbourne.

Tayla Harris is a promising young forward with elite contested marking skills and one of the few players capable of kicking a goal from outside 50.

The 20-year-old has years of football ahead of her, and would be a good long-term investment for a club. She also has the potential to be a face of a club both on and off the field.

So how could Harris make her way to each Victorian-based NAB AFL Women's club, and what impact would she have once there?

CARLTON
Harris was initially eager to make her way to Carlton, but the Brisbane Lions reportedly knocked back Carlton's trade offer of No.3 draft pick Bianca Jakobsson, and want two players in return for their marquee forward.

The competition's leading goalkicker, Darcy Vescio, commands the forward line for Carlton, but the addition of a player of Harris' stature would definitely spread the opposition's defence. Young key forward and NAB AFLW Rising Star nominee Bella Ayre suddenly becomes a highly talented third forward, easing pressure on the 18-year-old as she develops her skills.

The combination of Harris' marking skills and ability to crash packs, and Vescio's elite decision-making and agility at ground level, would be a formidable one to combat for opposition teams.

With the addition of Nicola Stevens across half-back to assist Brianna Davey, Harris could be the missing link for Carlton's premiership aspirations.

MELBOURNE
The Demons, like the Blues, pushed hard for a Grand Final spot in 2017, and also boast four All-Australians in their line-up – Daisy Pearce, Karen Paxman, Elise O'Dea and Melissa Hickey.

Footy operations manager Debbie Lee has said Melbourne would likely have a quiet trade period, but it would be extremely difficult to turn down a player of Harris' calibre.

Harris would add a different dimension to Melbourne's forward line. In 2017, the Demons had the inexperienced Alyssa Mifsud and the rough-and-ready Richelle Cranston as their key forwards, plus a host of quicks rotating through from the midfield.

The addition of Harris would provide some support for Mifsud – and a second tall target. Cranston is a smart, aggressive player, but better suited as a third forward able to cause havoc at ground level.

Melbourne's ruck division did look shaky at times, and would appreciate the support Harris would bring.

WESTERN BULLDOGS
If Harris walks from the Lions without a trade being made and nominates for the Victorian draft (like last year's draft, the 2018 draft is state-based), the Western Bulldogs would be in the box seat.

The Dogs currently have pick three in the draft – the first selection of the Victorian clubs – and are desperately seeking a key forward.

Their lack of forward options was exposed when captain Katie Brennan battled an ankle injury, which restricted her to just two matches. While Aasta O'Connor will be better for the run after coming back from an ACL reconstruction, the addition of Harris would provide the Dogs with a desperately needed forward target.

Brennan has since recovered and is currently lining up in the centre for VFL Women's side Darebin. Harris would allow Brennan to dictate play in a similar fashion, rather than being stranded in the forward 50.

COLLINGWOOD
Collingwood isn't completely out of the picture either, with vice-captain Alicia Eva seeking a trade to Greater Western Sydney for non-football reasons.

The Giants hold the No.1 draft pick, but as they face no opposition for NSW-based talent, the order of selection holds little relevance for them. An Eva-for-No.1 pick swap has been floated, which would place Collingwood in the front of the queue for Harris if she walks from the Lions.

Slotting Harris into Collingwood's talented forward line would not be as clear-cut as it would appear for other sides.

The Magpies already have an array of scoring options – Moana Hope, Jess Duffin (nee Cameron), Sarah D'Arcy, Jasmine Garner, even ruck Emma King – and the line-up grew more threatening as the season progressed.

But the Magpies do need some help in the middle of the ground to take advantage of King's ruck dominance. Harris lined up in the centre square on occasion for the Lions, and is a very difficult match-up due to her height and aggression.

Re-signings

Collingwood has been particularly pro-active in re-signing players, and now has 15 players on its 2018 list, plus one rookie.

Re: Dogs secure pick one in AFLW Draft, Lambert becomes a Pie

Slightly flawed trading system btw. Seeing as picks are limited to the pool of players nominated for your state, but still sit inside a full draft order, it means the Victorian clubs have far less chips to trade with.

For example, Brisbane is drafting from the pool of players that nominate Brisbane as their state. No club outside of Queensland can pick up those nominated players unless they go undrafted, so whether Brisbanes pick in the main draft is 1 or 20 they still get the best player from that pool. The Victorian pool however is accessible for 4 clubs, so draft order actually matters.

So say the top three picks were held by Brisbane, GWS and Collingwood respectively. They are all potential pick ones in the Victorian draft. Collingwoods pick 3 is the highest held by a Victorian club, but if either of Brisbane or GWS trade their picks to a Victorian club that becomes the new first pick in Victoria.

Conversely if say Freo holds pick 8 they get the best player in WA, but if Collingwood traded them their pick 3 Freo still get the best player in WA. So basically interstate clubs draft picks are worth nothing. They get the same players if they have picks 1, 2 and 3 as if they have picks 81, 82 and 83.

This means interstate clubs should be looking to trade all their picks to VIC clubs for players, and that since Victorian draft picks are useless they will never be sent the other way.

This means in effect Alicia Eva has gone to GWS for nothing, and this is why Brisbane want two players for Tayla Harris instead of a draft pick thrown in there.

Unless I'm reading it wrong it would seem it is a very broken trading market.

Re: Dogs secure pick one in AFLW Draft, Lambert becomes a Pie

As far as I'm concerned we win that trade comfortably. Lambert is a very handy player, but to get a key forward in either Harris or Chloe Molloy (18yo who would be pick one) plus two other picks in the top 8 or so from a Victorian POV is a great result.

Re: Dogs secure pick one in AFLW Draft, Lambert becomes a Pie

Originally Posted by jazzadogs

As far as I'm concerned we win that trade comfortably. Lambert is a very handy player, but to get a key forward in either Harris or Chloe Molloy (18yo who would be pick one) plus two other picks in the top 8 or so from a Victorian POV is a great result.

I've read it a couple of times and it doesn't make a lot of sense. I'm happy to concede there is probably a lot I don't understand about the finer points of the AFLW's trade system but we would do well to get out of the room without smirking at the very least.

AFL premiers 2016
VFL premiers 2016

I'm celebrating my love for you
With a pint of beer and a new tattoo
And if you haven't noticed yet
I'm more impressionable when my cement is wet

Re: Dogs secure pick one in AFLW Draft, Lambert becomes a Pie

Originally Posted by aker39

Gerard said on AFL360 tonight that Mo Hope has not been signed by Collingwood.

Is Sue Alberti has anything to do with it, she'll be a bulldog next year.

Apparently the Collingwood AFLW football manager last year was very poorly organised, basically just a women's football player who put her hand up and said she'd like to be involved without the necessary experience.

The person who told me this suspected they would lose a few players as a result.

Re: Dogs secure pick one in AFLW Draft, Lambert becomes a Pie

Originally Posted by Twodogs

I've read it a couple of times and it doesn't make a lot of sense. I'm happy to concede there is probably a lot I don't understand about the finer points of the AFLW's trade system but we would do well to get out of the room without smirking at the very least.

To me it's the men's equivalent of Dahlhaus (our third or fourth best midfielder) and pick 2 for pick 1, 3 and 6 (as Soupaman correctly stated, the pick order is irrelevant for the non-victorian clubs). I'd be smirking if I was the list manager, especially with the extra investment in under 18 talent this year.